National Gallery, London (must see)
For anyone with even a passing interest in art, placing a visit to this museum high on your London to-do list is a must, as it ranks among the world's premier art institutions. Boasting over 2,300 masterpieces, including works by renowned artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo, Turner, Monet, van Gogh, Picasso, and many more, it's a true treasure trove of artistry. Enter through the grand portico that offers views of the north side of Trafalgar Square, and you'll find yourself immersed in a collection of exceptional artworks. Notably, the Sainsbury Wing, a modern structure located immediately to the left, primarily focuses on medieval art, and tends to be less crowded.
A full day could easily be spent exploring the riches within this institution. Among its most famous highlights are Hans Holbein's "The Ambassadors", a portrait of two affluent visitors from France surrounded by symbol-laden objects, including a captivatingly distorted giant skull at the base, revealed only from a certain angle; Jan van Eyck's "The Arnolfini Portrait", featuring a solemn couple holding hands, with a fish-eye mirror behind them mysteriously illuminating unseen details; Leonardo da Vinci's magnificent altarpiece "The Virgin of the Rocks", commissioned in 1480; and J. M. W. Turner's "Rain, Steam, and Speed鈥擳he Great Western Railway", a portrayal of the mystical dynamism of the steam age amidst rain, steam, and mist (be sure to spot the fleeing hare).
The National Gallery hosts special exhibitions, several of which occur annually and are often major events. These exhibitions typically require tickets, so booking in advance is advisable. However, admission to the permanent collection is always free. Guided tours of the collection and curator's talks are regularly held both within the gallery and online; you can find detailed information on the website.
Why You Should Visit:
Enjoy free admission and explore numerous rooms filled with exquisite art by a variety of artists, including some of the most renowned in history. You have the option to take photographs or use an audio guide to enhance your experience.
Tip:
For a dining experience in an artistic setting, consider the on-site restaurant at the National Gallery. It offers a unique menu that includes Colchester native oysters, alongside more traditional choices like cakes, sandwiches, teas, coffee, and more. The National Gallery also offers its own themed afternoon tea, with the menu and theme changing depending on the current exhibition. Regardless of the menu, you can always count on scones being a part of the experience. Afternoon tea is available daily, and no prior booking is required.
A full day could easily be spent exploring the riches within this institution. Among its most famous highlights are Hans Holbein's "The Ambassadors", a portrait of two affluent visitors from France surrounded by symbol-laden objects, including a captivatingly distorted giant skull at the base, revealed only from a certain angle; Jan van Eyck's "The Arnolfini Portrait", featuring a solemn couple holding hands, with a fish-eye mirror behind them mysteriously illuminating unseen details; Leonardo da Vinci's magnificent altarpiece "The Virgin of the Rocks", commissioned in 1480; and J. M. W. Turner's "Rain, Steam, and Speed鈥擳he Great Western Railway", a portrayal of the mystical dynamism of the steam age amidst rain, steam, and mist (be sure to spot the fleeing hare).
The National Gallery hosts special exhibitions, several of which occur annually and are often major events. These exhibitions typically require tickets, so booking in advance is advisable. However, admission to the permanent collection is always free. Guided tours of the collection and curator's talks are regularly held both within the gallery and online; you can find detailed information on the website.
Why You Should Visit:
Enjoy free admission and explore numerous rooms filled with exquisite art by a variety of artists, including some of the most renowned in history. You have the option to take photographs or use an audio guide to enhance your experience.
Tip:
For a dining experience in an artistic setting, consider the on-site restaurant at the National Gallery. It offers a unique menu that includes Colchester native oysters, alongside more traditional choices like cakes, sandwiches, teas, coffee, and more. The National Gallery also offers its own themed afternoon tea, with the menu and theme changing depending on the current exhibition. Regardless of the menu, you can always count on scones being a part of the experience. Afternoon tea is available daily, and no prior booking is required.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 51爆料网 App
National Gallery on Map
Sight Name: National Gallery
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in London, England
Create Your Own Walk in London
Creating your own self-guided walk in London is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Charles Dickens Tour
Today's world's literature and mass culture are hardly imaginable without the works of Charles Dickens, recognized as the greatest British novelist of the Victorian era. A pioneer of 鈥渃liffhanger鈥� endings, Dickens remains one of the most-read English authors whose writings never go out of print and have been repeatedly adapted to stage, screen and TV.
Dickens was born in... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Dickens was born in... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Harry Potter Walking Tour II
The arrival of Harry Potter books, followed by tremendously successful Hollywood adaptation, has made London an even more popular destination now with the Harry Potter fans all over the world. The list of attractions in the city associated with Potter鈥檚 journeys includes both, newly-invented as well as some long-standing locations.
On Part II of the self-guided Happy Potter Walking Tour, you... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
On Part II of the self-guided Happy Potter Walking Tour, you... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Covent Garden Walking Tour
A shopping and entertainment hub on the eastern fringes of London's West End, Covent Garden is a district historically associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market 鈥� currently a shopping spot popular with locals and tourists alike.
Once a slum area, today the north of the district is given over to independent shops centered on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Both places offer... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Once a slum area, today the north of the district is given over to independent shops centered on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Both places offer... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Jane Austen鈥檚 London
The celebrated English novelist Jane Austen primarily lived between Bath and Hampshire. However, London also held a special significance in Austen's life. Many of her novels drew inspiration from the capital, like Lydia Bennet and Mr Wickham鈥檚 elopement in 鈥淧ride & Prejudice.鈥�
One of Austen's cherished spots in London was Twinings, a renowned tea shop. Jane Austen was known... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
One of Austen's cherished spots in London was Twinings, a renowned tea shop. Jane Austen was known... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
Jack the Ripper Walking Tour
Jack the Ripper, an unidentified serial killer who terrorized the British capital in 1888, became notorious for the series of brutal and gruesome murders that he carried out in the East End of London. The primary setting for the Jack the Ripper attacks was Whitechapel, at the time a poverty-stricken and crime-ridden district, known for its dark alleys and narrow streets.
The name "Jack the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
The name "Jack the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Kensington/Knightsbridge Walking Tour
Situated just below Hyde Park, Knightsbridge and South Kensington are two adjacent neighborhoods with grand Victorian homes and leafy garden squares. Home to London鈥檚 most expensive homes, Knightsbridge has some of the highest density of millionaires in the world. This is clearly reflected in the selection of stores & restaurants in the area, including the famous Harvey Nichols and Harrods... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
London Souvenirs: 20 Distinctively British Products for Travelers
Most visitors to London consider shopping as part of their must-do London experience. From street markets to Victorian arcades to snobbish Sloane Square to busy Oxford Street, there are a host of shops selling items which typically represent this vibrant city. Whether you are shopping for souvenirs...